Journals of Robert McQuarrie

. . . 1857 Sunday 15 - I was released from the duties of my calling in the Greenock Branch and received a recommend previous to my departure for Salt Lake Valley. According to counsel I was rebaptized & confirmed by Elder Peter McFarlane, president of the Greenock Branch.

1857 Thursday 19 We left our homes and sailed from Greenock to Liverpool per steamship "Vanguard." Beside my father's family we took with us Hamilton Garrick and Agnes Gray who after our arrival in Salt Lake became my brother Hector's wife. We stayed in Liverpool 8 days and took passage on board the George Washington for Boston with 816 souls on board.

Before we set sail we were favored with the presence of Elders Orson Pratt, Ezra T. Benson, & J. Ray, the presidency of the European mission. They gave us some good instructions and promised us a good passage and safe arrival in Boston. Elder James P. Park was appointed president of the company, Jesse B. Martin and Charles R. Dana counselors with a host of Valley elders on board. The second night we were at sea, a storm arose and the noise of the boxes and tin cans was terrible.

1857 April 17 The sea was very rough. The sea was rolling from one side to the other and upset some of the cooking utensils and set the ship on fire, but it was soon got out. One of the cooks was ill scalded about the arms and heads, another brother got his hand scalded but soon got well. [p.5]

1857 Monday April 20 We arrived in Boston Bay after 23 days of sailing. The first mate said he sailed the seas for 32 years but never had better winds to take us into Boston. As soon as we cast anchor a terrible storm arose of wind, snow, & rain. Cast 2 more anchors. The storm continued so that we could not get into the harbor till Wednesday about noon. We stayed in the ship overnight.

Thursday the 23rd 4 p.m. We left Boston by rails. Arrived in Albany on Friday. Ferried across the [UNCLEAR, POSSIBLY Hudson] River. Took rail again. Arrived in Buffalo on Saturday at 10:00 o'clock a.m. Left Buffalo and arrived in Cleveland on Sunday morning. At 5:00 o'clock p.m. we went into the cars and stayed in them all night. We left Cleveland at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning arrived in Toledo about noon. We left Toledo at 7 o'clock p.m. for Chicago. Arrived in Iowa City on May 1st. We camped 3 miles west of Iowa City. Remained there one month during which time we were preparing wagons, bows, and yokes.

Wednesday 3 We started with a company of 31 wagons, Jesse B. Martin, captain of the company, C. R. Danna, captain of the 1st ten wagons, James Carrigan, captain of the second ten, Oliver Workman, captain of the 3rd ten. . . . [p.6]

1857 September Saturday 12 We started at 7 o'clock. Brother Robert Baxter met us on the top of the little mountain, we went into Salt Lake City and camped on the public square. [p.15]